The effectiveness of current contacts between Europe and Israel can be improved and there is a need to better understand each side's culture, values, experiences and perspectives. The FSD provides strategic vision without a political agenda, beyond the constraints of formal intergovernmental relations to produce effective change and trusted professional relationships that endure beyond the annual strategic dialogues. The FSD provides a private and secluded venue for high-level European and Israeli policymakers and experts for informal interpersonal exchange on issues of national security where close coordination is essential.

Justin Vaïsse, Director of the Policy Planning Staff; with Michael Herzog, former Chief of Staff to the Minister of Defence, Washington Institute for near East policy; Udi Dekel, INSS' Deputy Director and Senior Research Fellow; and Zacharie Gross, Deputy Chief of Mission, French Embassy in Israel at the Fourth France-Israel Strategic Dialogue

Deputy Prime Minister Dan Meridor, after his keynote speech at the Strategic Dialogue Gala Dinner, with Camille Grand, Director of FRS; and Michel Miraillet, Director of Strategic Affairs at France's Defence Ministry at the Third France-Israel Strategic Dialogue

Thérèse Delpech, Director of Strategic Studies at the French Atomic Energy Commission; and Naor Gilon, Deputy Director General in charge of Western European Affairs at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs discussing sanctions on Iran at the Second France-Israel Strategic Dialogue

2017201720152014201320122011

Chagai Tzuriel, Director General, Intelligence Ministry; and Maj. Gen. (res.) Yaacov Amidror, Anne and Greg Rosshandler Senior Fellow, BESA; former National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister and Head of Israel's National Security Council (NSC) at the Third UK-Israel Strategic Dialogue

Minister Tzachi Hanegbi, Israel's Minister of Regional Cooperation and then acting Minister of Communication gave a keynote address articulating the valuable work of his ministry as well as challenges and opportunities for Israel in a changing Middle East at the Second UK-Israel Strategic Dialogue

Israeli President Shimon Peres with the British delegation in a special visit following the First UK-Israel Strategic Dialogue

One on one with Israeli keynote speaker Maj. Gen. (res.) Amos Gilead, Director of Policy and Political-Military Affairs, Israel's Ministry of Defense; and Sir John Jenkins , Executive Director, International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS)-Middle East

Carsten Ovens MdHB, Member, Hamburg State Parliament, Committee on Economics, Innovation and Media (right), discussing with Dr Matthias Quent, Director of the Institute for Democracy and Civil Society, during a break at the Sixth Germany-Israel Strategic Forum.

Minister of European and Federal Affairs and Representative of the state of Hessen at the Federal Government Lucia Puttrich giving a keynote speech at the Fifth Germany-Israel Strategic Forum

Michael Georg Link, Director, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) (left) discussing with German officials from the Federal Foreign Office and the Chancellery at the Fourth Germany-Israel Strategic Forum

MP Johann David Wadephul, Rapporteur on the Middle East and Iran for the CDU/CSU, presenting at the Third Germany-Israel Strategic Forum

Prof. Itamar Rabinovich, former Amb. of Israel in Washington & President of Tel-Aviv University; Amos Gilead, Director of Policy and Political-Military Affairs, Israeli MoD; Amb. Andreas Reinicke, EU Special Representative to MEPP; and Brig. Gen. (ret.) Michael Herzog, former CoS to the Minister of Defense, Washington Institute for Near East Policy at the First Germany-Israel Strategic Forum

201820172016201520142013

Participants of the Fourth Poland-Israel Strategic Dialogue at the prestigious historic Belvedere Palace

Senator Dr Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz (right), Poland's head of the Foreign Affairs Committee at the Senate, and former Prime Minister; and Gideon Sa'ar (left) , former Israeli Minister of Internal Affairs and a future contender for Likud leadership, gave keynote speeches on Poland and Israel’s strategic challenges at the Third Poland-Israel Strategic Dialogue.

From left to right: Senator Bogdan Klich, former Minister of Defense of Poland; Dr Uzi Arad, former National Security Advisor to the PM and Head of Israel's NSC; Prof. IDC; Amb. Zvi Magen , Senior Research Fellow, INSS; and Brig. Gen. (res.) Yosef Kuperwasser, Director General, Israel's Ministry of International Affairs and Strategy at the Second Poland-Israel Strategic Dialogue.

The Israeli delegation discussing Polish security pillars in a changing environment and the prospects of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict with Prof. Stanisław Koziej, Head of Poland's National Security Bureau and senior members of his staff

After the keynote addresses of Amb. Alexander Vershbow, Deputy Secretary General, NATO; and Amb. David Walzer, Ambassador of Israel to the European Union and NATO, the high-level participants discussed 20 years of NATO-Israel cooperation in the Mediterranean Dialogue.

Wolfgang Rudischhauser, Director, NATO WMD Non-Proliferation Centre; and Dr Uzi Arad, former National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister and Head of Israel's National Security Council (NSC) exchanging views on NATO Weapon of Mass Destruction (WMD) Non-Proliferation and Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Policies

Dr Jamie P. Shea, NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges; and Eran Etzion, Executive Director, Forum of Strategic Dialogue (FSD) discussing the changing security realities in the Mediterranean and in the Middle East

201420142014201420142014

Yossie Hollander, Co-Founder & Chairman, Fuel Freedom Foundation; and Prof. Uzi Arad, Former National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister and Head of Israel's National Security Council (NSC) at the Third EU-Israel Strategic Roundtable on development approaches in Sub-Saharan Africa

Brig. Gen. (res.) Jacob Nagel, former Acting Head of Israel's National Security Council (NSC) at the Third EU-Israel Strategic Dialogue on regional cooperation and stabilisation in the Middle East

Chagai Tzuriel , Director General of Israel's Ministry of Intelligence, presenting “Tracks for regional peace, the regional land bridge and hub initiative” at the Second EU-Israel Strategic Roundtable on a shifting strategic balance in the Middle East:

Amb. Fernando Gentilini, EU Special Representative for the MEPP at the Second EU-Israel Strategic Dialogue

From left to right: Eran Etzion, Executive Director of the FSD; Alfredo Conte, Head of the Strategic Planning Division, EEAS; and Amb. Ran Curiel, former Senior Deputy Director General, Political Director, Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the First EU-Israel Strategic Roundtable on the EU Global Strategy for Foreign and Security Policy

Gilles de Kerchove, EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator, opening the First EU-Israel Strategic Dialogue with a keynote speech on countering terrorism and religious extremism

201820172017201620162015

Deputy Director General for Political and Security Affairs, French Ministry of Foreign Affairs Amb. Eric Danon (middle) at the First Trilateral US-Europe-Israel Strategic Dialogue

Special Adviser to the US Vice President Tom Rose giving a keynote speech on China

Brig. Gen. (ret.) Michael Herzog, International Fellow, Washington Institute for near East policy; and Elliott Abrams, Senior Fellow for Middle Eastern Studies, Council on Foreign Relations

One on one with Omri Ceren, National Security Adviser, US Senator Ted Cruz's office; and Shimrit Meir, CEO, Link – the Center for Strategic Communication in the Middle East

Former Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee of the US Congress Howard L. Berman

Amb. Marc Otte, Former EU Special Representative for the MEPP, Senior Associate Fellow, Egmont Institute; and Alfredo Conte, Minister Plenipotentiary at the Directorate General for Political Affairs and Security, Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

201820182018201820182018

Eva Martínez Sánchez, Director General of the Maghreb, the Mediterrean and Middle East, Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), European Union and Cooperation, and Maj. Gen. (ret.) Yaacov Amidror, former National Security Advisor to the PM and Head of Israel's NSC, at the First Spain-Israel Strategic Dialogue

Director of the Cabinet of Analysis and Forecasting at the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs José Antonio Sabadell

Amb. Daniel Kutner, Israel's Ambassador to Spain

Former National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister and Head of Israel’s National Security Council (NSC) Yaacov Amidror